Dr Sally Hayes

Senior Research Fellow

: Available for postgraduate supervision

After graduating from Aberystwyth University in 2000 with a First Class Honours in Animal (Equine) Science, I took up a 5-year MRC funded Research Assistant post within the Structural Biophysics Group at Cardiff University to investigate the relationship between corneal structure and function. In 2005 I was awarded a PhD for my research into the structural organisation of collagen in the corneas of primates and other animals and the stromal changes associated with the disease keratoconus. Since then, I have continued to follow this line of research as a Research Fellow, using X-ray scattering techniques and biochemcial methods to delve further into the structure-function relationships that exist within the cornea in health and disease, and to investigate the potential of new treatments for corneal disorders. I have a particular interest in the development and optimisation of photodynamic corneal cross-linking therapies for the management of keratoconus.

2021

Zhou, D. et al. 2021. Fibril density reduction in keratoconic corneas. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 18(175), article number: 20200900. (10.1098/rsif.2020.0900)
Hayes, S., Morgan, S. R. and Meek, K. M. 2021. Keratoconus: cross-linking the window of the eye. Therapeutic Advances in Rare Disease 2, pp. 1-14. (10.1177/26330040211003573)

2020

Hayes, S. et al. 2020. The effect of bacteriochlorophyll derivative WST-D and near infrared light on the molecular and fibrillar architecture of the corneal stroma. Scientific Reports 10, article number: 9836. (10.1038/s41598-020-66869-y)
Meek, K. M., Quantock, A. J., Hayes, S. and Bell, J. 2020. X-ray diffraction imaging of corneal ultrastructure. In: Ahearne, M. ed. Corneal Regeneration: Methods and Protocols., Vol. 2145. Methods in Molecular Biology New York, NY, USA: Humana, pp. 231-247., (10.1007/978-1-0716-0599-8_16)
Feneck, E. M., Souza, R. B., Lewis, P. N., Hayes, S., Pereira, L. V. and Meek, K. M. 2020. Developmental abnormalities in the cornea of a mouse model for Marfan syndrome. Experimental Eye Research 194, article number: 108001. (10.1016/j.exer.2020.108001)

2018

Morgan, S. et al. 2018. Microwave treatment of the cornea leads to localised disruption of the extracellular matrix. Scientific Reports 8, article number: 13742. (10.1038/s41598-018-32110-0)
Hayes, S., Meek, K. and Mukherjee, A. 2018. Use of donors predisposed by corneal collagen cross-linking in penetrating keratoplasty for treating patients with keratoconus. American Journal of Ophthalmology 188, pp. 181-181. (10.1016/j.ajo.2017.12.026)
Pinsky, P. M., Ma, Y., Hwang, Y., Hayes, S. and Meek, K. M. 2018. A simple mathematical model for collagen fibril organization in normal and keratoconic corneas. Journal for Modeling in Ophthalmology 1
O'Brart, N., O'Brart, D., Aldahlawi, N., Hayes, S. and Meek, K. 2018. An investigation of the effects of riboflavin concentration on the efficacy of corneal cross-linking using an enzymatic resistance model in porcine corneas. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 59, pp. 1058-1065. (10.1167/iovs.17-22994)
Bell, J. S. et al. 2018. The hierarchical response of human corneal collagen to load. Acta Biomaterialia 65, pp. 216-225. (10.1016/j.actbio.2017.11.015)
Islam, M. M. et al. 2018. Biomaterials-enabled cornea regeneration in patients at high risk for rejection of donor tissue transplantation. npj Regenerative Medicine 3, article number: 2. (10.1038/s41536-017-0038-8)
O’Brart, D. P. S., O’Brart, N. A. L., Aldahlawi, N., Hayes, S. and Meek, K. 2018. The role of riboflavin concentration and oxygen in the efficacy and depth of corneal crosslinking. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 59, pp. 4449-4450. (10.1167/iovs.18-24437)
Bell, J. et al. 2018. A subfibrillar deformation mechanism in corneal collagen that affords flexibility. Presented at: ARVO Annual Meeting 2018, Honolulu, April 29 - May 3, 2018, Vol. 59. Vol. 9. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

2017

Abass, A., Bell, J. S., Spang, M. T., Hayes, S., Meek, K. M. A. and Boote, C. 2017. SAXS4COLL: an integrated software tool for analysing fibrous collagen-based tissues. Journal of Applied Crystallography 50, pp. 1235-1240. (10.1107/S1600576717007877)
Hayes, S. et al. 2017. The structural response of the cornea to changes in stromal hydration. Interface 14(131) (10.1098/rsif.2017.0062)
White, T. et al. 2017. The structural role of elastic fibres in the cornea investigated using a mouse model for Marfan syndrome. Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science 58(4), pp. 2106-2116. (10.1167/iovs.16-21358)

2016

Aldahlawi, N. H., Hayes, S., O'Brart, D. P., O'Brart, N. and Meek, K. M. A. 2016. An investigation into corneal enzymatic resistance following epithelium-off and epithelium-on corneal cross-linking protocols. Experimental Eye Research 153, pp. 141-151. (10.1016/j.exer.2016.10.014)
Aldahlawi, N. H., Hayes, S., O'Brart, D. P. S., Akhbanbetova, A., Littlechild, S. L. and Meek, K. M. A. 2016. Enzymatic resistance of corneas crosslinked using riboflavin in conjunction with low energy, high energy, and pulsed UVA irradiation modes. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 57(4), pp. 1547-1552. (10.1167/iovs.15-18769)

2015

Hayes, S. et al. 2015. The structural and optical properties of type III human collagen biosynthetic corneal substitutes. Acta Biomaterialia 25, pp. 121-130. (10.1016/j.actbio.2015.07.009)
Hayes, S., Morgan, S. R., O'Brart, D. P., O'Brart, N. and Meek, K. M. A. 2015. A study of stromal riboflavin absorption inex vivoporcine corneas using new and existing delivery protocols for corneal cross-linking. Acta Ophthalmologica 94(2), pp. e109-e117. (10.1111/aos.12884)
Mukherjee, A., Hayes, S., Aslanides, I., Lanchares, E. and Meek, K. M. 2015. Donor cross-linking for keratoplasty: a laboratory evaluation. Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 252(12), pp. 2223-2228. (10.1007/s00417-015-3160-6)
Aldahlawi, N., Hayes, S., OBrart, D. and Meek, K. M. A. 2015. Standard versus accelerated riboflavin/ultraviolet corneal cross-linking: Resistance against enzymatic digestion. Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery 41(9), pp. 1989-1996. (10.1016/j.jcrs.2015.10.004)
Abass, A., Hayes, S., White, N., Sorensen, T. and Meek, K. M. 2015. Transverse depth-dependent changes in corneal collagen lamellar orientation and distribution. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 12(104), article number: 20140717. (10.1098/rsif.2014.0717)

2013

Davidson, A. E., Hayes, S., Hardcastle, A. J. and Tuft, S. J. 2013. The pathogenesis of keratoconus. Eye 28(2), pp. 189-195. (10.1038/eye.2013.278)
Boote, C. et al. 2013. Quantification of Collagen Ultrastructure after Penetrating Keratoplasty - Implications for Corneal Biomechanics. PLoS ONE 8(7), article number: e68166. (10.1371/journal.pone.0068166)
Abahussin, M., Hayes, S., Edelhauser, H., Dawson, D. G. and Meek, K. M. A. 2013. A microscopy study of the structural features of post-LASIK human corneas. PLoS ONE 8(5), article number: e63268. (10.1371/journal.pone.0063268)
Meek, K. M. A. and Hayes, S. 2013. Corneal crosslinking - A review. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics 33(2), pp. 78-93. (10.1111/opo.12032)
Hayes, S. et al. 2013. The effect of Riboflavin/UVA collagen cross-linking therapy on the structure and hydrodynamic behaviour of the ungulate and rabbit corneal stroma. PLoS ONE 8(1), article number: e52860. (10.1371/journal.pone.0052860)

2012

Boote, C. et al. 2012. Quantitative assessment of ultrastructure and light scatter in mouse corneal debridement wounds. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 53(6), pp. 2786-2795. (10.1167/iovs.11-9305)
Hayes, S. et al. 2012. Depth Profile Study of Abnormal Collagen Orientation in Keratoconus Corneas. Archives of Ophthalmology 130(2), pp. 251-252. (10.1001/archopthalmol.2011.1467)

2011

Boote, C. et al. 2011. Quantification of collagen organization in the peripheral human cornea at micron-scale resolution. Biophysical Journal 101(1), pp. 33-42. (10.1016/j.bpj.2011.05.029)
Hayes, S. et al. 2011. Riboflavin/UVA Collagen Cross-Linking-Induced Changes in Normal and Keratoconus Corneal Stroma. PLoS ONE 6(8), article number: e22405. (10.1371/journal.pone.0022405)
Hayes, S. et al. 2011. The effect of vitamin C deficiency and chronic ultraviolet-B exposure on corneal ultrastructure: a preliminary investigation. Molecular Vision 17, pp. 3107-3115.

2010

Sheppard, J., Hayes, S., Boote, C., Votruba, M. and Meek, K. M. A. 2010. Changes in corneal collagen architecture during mouse postnatal development. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 51(6), pp. 2936-2942. (10.1167/iovs.09-4612)
Kamma-Lorger, C. S. et al. 2010. Collagen and mature elastic fibre organisation as a function of depth in the human cornea and limbus. Journal of Structural Biology 169(3), pp. 424-430. (10.1016/j.jsb.2009.11.004)

2009

Abahussin, M. O., Hayes, S., Knox Cartwright, N. E., Kamma-Lorger, C. S., Khan, Y., Marshall, J. and Meek, K. M. A. 2009. 3D collagen orientation study of the human cornea using X-ray diffraction and femtosecond laser technology. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 50(11), pp. 5159-5164. (10.1167/iovs.09-3669)
Boote, C. et al. 2009. Ultrastructural changes in the retinopathy, globe enlarged (rge) chick cornea. Journal of Structural Biology 166(2), pp. 195-204. (10.1016/j.jsb.2009.01.009)
Kamma-Lorger, C. S., Boote, C., Hayes, S., Albon, J., Boulton, M. E. and Meek, K. M. A. 2009. Collagen ultrastructural changes during stromal wound healing in organ cultured bovine corneas. Experimental Eye Research 88(5), pp. 953-959. (10.1016/j.exer.2008.12.005)
Samaras, K., O'Brart, D. P., Doutch, J., Hayes, S., Marshall, J. and Meek, K. M. A. 2009. Effect of Epithelial Retention and Removal on Riboflavin Absorption in Porcine Corneas. Journal of Refractive Surgery 25(9), pp. 771-775. (10.3928/1081597X-20090813-03)
Hayes, S., Young, R. D., Boote, C., Hawksworth, N., Huang, Y. and Meek, K. M. A. 2009. A structural investigation of corneal graft failure in suspected recurrent keratoconus. Eye 24(4), pp. 728-734. (10.1038/eye.2009.159)
Kamma-Lorger, C. S., Hayes, S., Boote, C., Burghammer, M., Boulton, M. E. and Meek, K. M. A. 2009. Effects on collagen orientation in the cornea after trephine injury. Molecular Vision 15, pp. 378-385.

2008

Boote, C. et al. 2008. Collagen organization in the chicken cornea and structural alterations in the retinopathy, globe enlarged (rge) phenotype - An X-ray diffraction study. Journal of Structural Biology 161(1), pp. 1-8. (10.1016/j.jsb.2007.08.015)

2007

Hayes, S. et al. 2007. Comparative Study of Fibrillar Collagen Arrangement in the Corneas of Primates and Other Mammals. The Anatomical Record: Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology 290(12), pp. 1542-1550. (10.1002/ar.20613)
Hayes, S., Boote, C., Tuft, S. J., Quantock, A. J. and Meek, K. M. A. 2007. A study of corneal thickness, shape and collagen organisation in keratoconus using videokeratography and X-ray scattering techniques. Experimental Eye Research 84(3), pp. 423-434. (10.1016/j.exer.2006.10.014)
Quantock, A. J. et al. 2007. Small-angle fibre diffraction studies of corneal matrix structure: a depth profiled investigation of the human eye-bank cornea. Journal of Applied Crystallography 40(S1), pp. S335-S340. (10.1107/S0021889807005523)

2006

Boote, C., Hayes, S., Abahussin, M. and Meek, K. M. A. 2006. Mapping collagen organization in the human cornea: left and right eyes are structurally distinct. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 47(3), pp. 901-908. (10.1167/iovs.05-0893)

2005

Meek, K. M. A., Tuft, S. J., Huang, Y., Gill, P. S., Hayes, S., Newton, R. H. and Bron, A. J. 2005. Changes in collagen orientation and distribution in keratoconus corneas. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 46(6), pp. 1948-1956. (10.1167/iovs.04-1253)
Boote, C., Hayes, S., Huang, Y., Quantock, A. J. and Meek, K. M. A. 2005. Lamellar orientation in human cornea in relation to mechanical properties. Journal of Structural Biology 149(1), pp. 1-6. (10.1016/j.jsb.2004.08.009)
Hayes, S. 2005. Structural organisation of collagen in the corneas of primates and other mammals and the stromal changes associated with the disease keratoconus. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.

2004

Boote, C., Hayes, S. and Meek, K. M. A. 2004. Spatial mapping of collagen fibril organisation in primate cornea - an X-ray diffraction investigation. Journal of Structural Biology 146(3), pp. 359-367. (10.1016/j.jsb.2003.12.009)

2003

Hayes, S. et al. 2003. Ultrastructural Changes in Keratoconic-like Mice Corneas [Abstract]. Fibre Diffraction Review 11, pp. 135.
Quantock, A. J. et al. 2003. Annulus of collagen fibrils in mouse cornea and structural matrix alterations in a murine-specific keratopathy. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 44(5), pp. 1906-1911. (10.1167/iovs.02-0884)
Boote, C., Hayes, S., Newton, R. H., Puri, H. and Meek, K. M. A. 2003. Collagen fibrils appear more closely packed in the prepupilliary cornea: optical and biomechanical implications. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 44(7), pp. 2941-2948. (10.1167/iovs.03-0131)
Meek, K. M. A., Leonard, D., Connon, C. J., Hayes, S. and Khan, S. 2003. Transparency, swelling and scarring in the corneal stroma. Eye 17(8), pp. 927-936. (10.1038/sj.eye.6700574)
Meek, K., Hayes, S. and Khan, S. 2003. Changes in the refractive index of the stroma and its extrafibrillar matrix when the cornea swells. Biophysical Journal 85(4), pp. 2205-2212.
Hayes, S., Khan, S. and Meek, K. M. A. 2003. Changes in the refractive index of the cornea when the stroma swells [Abstract]. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 44, article number: 886.
Boote, C., Hayes, S. and Meek, K. M. A. 2003. Collagen organisation in adult and foetal marmoset cornea. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 44(E-Abst)

My current research is aimed at further understanding the relationship between structure and function in normal and diseased corneas. I am particularly interested in keratoconus, a disease characterised by progressive thinning and steepening of the cornea and severe irregular astigmatism. Keratoconus is one of the leading causes of corneal transplant surgery in the UK.

During my doctoral studies I used a combination of videokeratography to assess corneal shape, and synchrotron x-ray diffraction to gain quantitative structural information about the organisation and distribution of collagen in normal and keratoconus corneas, to examine the link between corneal structure and specific keratoconus shape changes. The findings of this study supported the theory that lamellar slippage is involved in the progressive thinning and steepening of keratoconus corneas. In recent years a therapeutic treatment has been developed to strengthen corneal tissue and halt the progressive steepening of keratoconus corneas. The treatment involves the combined use of UVA and riboflavin to stabilise corneal collagen and its surrounding matrix. I am currently investigating the mechanism by which the treatment strengthens the cornea and the ways in which the treatment can be modified to minimise patient treatment time and maximise patient comfort.

I am also interested in human corneal development, in particular the structural changes that lead to the cornea becoming strong, transparent and precisely curved. Recently granted access to the MRC/Wellcome Trust-funded Human Developmental Biology Resource (HDBR) has provided a unique opportunity to examine structural changes occurring at key stages of foetal development.

My current research is funded by a £2.4 million Medical Research Grant (on which I am a named Researcher Co-investigator) that is focussed on the development of new technologies and techniques to better understand the function of the cornea and other collagen rich tissues, and the development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of connective tissue disorders including developmental abnormalities, disease and abnormal healing processes.

Recent Research Seminars

2019: Invited speaker at the South Western Ophthalmological Society Meeting, Bristol
2016, 2017, 2018: Invited speaker at the CXL Experts meeting, Zurich, Switzerland
2015: Invited speaker at the 11th International Congress of Corneal Cross-linking, Boston, USA
2012: Speaker at the 8th International Congress of Corneal Cross-linking, Geneva, Switzerland

Supervision of PhD/MPhil students
Supervision of final year undergraduate written and practical projects.
Supervision of work experience students from local schools.
STEM engagement activities in local schools as part of the STEM Ambassador Programme

Education

2001-2005: PhD Structural Biophysics: The structural organisation of collagen in the corneas of primates and other mammals and the stromal changes associated with the disease keratoconus. Structural Biophysics Group, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University.

1997 - 2000: First Class Honours in Animal/Equine Science Aberystwyth University

Career history

2019-present: Researcher Co-Investigator/Research Fellow on a 5-year, £2.4 mn Medical Research Council Grant: A mechanistic understanding of corneal pathobiology and the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of connective tissue disorders. Structural Biophysics Group, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University

2018-2019: Research Fellow/Research Facilitator and Public Engagement Representative (School-funded): School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University

2005 - 2018: Research Fellow/Research Associate on two Medical Research Council Grants: (1) The collagen matrix in corneal pathology, and the effect of new therapies for loss of transparency and refractive status; (2) The ultrastructural basis of corneal dysfunction and the development and optimization of new therapies. Structural Biophysics Group, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University

2001-2005: Research Assistant on a 5-year Medical Research Clouncil Grant: Corneal Transparency, Dioptric Power and their Alterations in Pathological Conditions. Structural Biophysics Group, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University

Honours and awards

Cardiff University outstanding contribution award, 2014
Finalist in the Royal Institute Science Graduate of the Year Award, 2004

Professional memberships

Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology

Committees and reviewing

External expert reviewer for the Health Technology Wales's assessment of corneal cross-linking cost-effectiveness (undertaken on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government) (2020-present)
Panel member for the Wellcome Trust ISSF Public Engagement Fund (2019-present)
Member of the College Public Engagement Network Working Group (2019-present)
Member of the Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering and Repair Public Engagement Committee (2019-present)
Member of the School Research Committee (2014-2016 and 2018-present)
Member of the UK-Cross-linking Consortium Steering Committee (2013-present)
Member of the COVID-19 Research Prioritisation Group (March-November 2020)
Journal peer reviewer for Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences (2020), BMC Notes (2020), Current Eye Research (2019, 2020), Journal of Refractive Surgery (2018)
Editorial Board member of Scientific Reports, Nature Publishing Group (2018-2019)
External PhD examiner at Liverpool University (2019) and Manchester University (2018)
Member of the School Athena Swan Committee, Bronze award attained (2017-2019)
Faculty member of the International CXL Experts Meeting (2017-2018)
Member of the School Ethics Committee (2016-2019)
Chair of the Research Staff Forum (2012-2016)
Member of the International Stakeholders Committee (2009-2011)
Member of the School Charity Committee (2009-2011)
Member of the School Post Graduate Teaching Committee (2005-2007)

Corneal structure/function, pathology and novel therapies

Contact Details

HayesS5@cardiff.ac.uk
+44 29208 70459
Optometry and Vision Sciences, Room Room 3.22, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ

Cardiff University researchers drive forward NHS availability of sight saving corneal therapy in Wales